CHAPTER SEVEN

Alexis was still smiling abut Michael's announcement when the medication timer on her watch began chiming softly. She asked Nikolas to finish feeding Molly and went into the kitchen to get her meds.

Sonny followed her into the room, carrying in the bag that Elizabeth Webber had brought. He sat it on the counter and turned to Alexis. .

Alexis raised a hand before he could speak. "Before you ask me for the hundredth time, I'm fine. It's just time to take my anti-nausea medicines and my vitamin supplements." She poured herself a glass of apple juice and then followed her words with the action.

"Looks like a lot of pills." Sonny said, looking concernedly at the bottles Alexis had lined up on the counter. In spite of what she said, there were just so many. "Maybe I should fix you something to eat. Something hearty and filling."

"You get used to it. But eating..." Alexis said. "Well, let's just say, I haven't had much of an appetite lately." She shrugged and tried to smile it all away. "I hear that goes with the territory."

"Alexis, I'm just trying to help."

"I get that Sonny, I just have to wonder why? And why now?"

It was Sonny's turn to shrug. "It's a lot of things. But mainly, it's because I've realized that this is where I need to be." He didn't know if he was ready to try and explain himself. And then he lost his nerve to even try. Before she could ask him anything more, Sonny turned and left.

Sooner than she would have thought, the room had been totally transformed. And more importantly, so had Kristina. Her eyes were glowing with happiness with all the laughing and talk going on around her.

Alexis retrieved Molly from Nikolas, she lifted her up in her arms and carried her over to the tree. Together they began hanging up ornaments. Or more to the point, Molly would point to each sparkly ornament, then try and gum them and then Alexis would hang them.

Either way, they both were having a very good time.

Alexis didn't think this house had ever held this much light and laughter. She looked around, taking it all in. She never thought that she would see Carly in her house, but there she was, scolding Jax as they draped the last of the lights around the tree. Nikolas had finished hanging the pine boughs around the room, and now he and Emily were tying on festive bows to their ends. Sonny was kneeling by one of the boxes of ornaments, studiously avoiding eye contact with her...but that was a mystery she'd puzzled out earlier. And outside, the shouts and laughter of children came through like silvery bells of joy.

Alexis wandered over to a window and looked out to a scene that enchanted her. Kristina and Morgan were patting the snow onto the bottom half of the snowman, Jason was trying to lift the second one into place, but even as he did it, Michael had scooped up a handful of snow and was throwing it at him. It caught him on the back of the head and when Jason turned around and made as though he was going to chase him, Michael ducked behind Elizabeth. Jason grabbed at her and Michael ran, but Jason didn't let go of Liz. Instead they stood there under the gentle snowfall and laughed.

And for Alexis, everything became crystal clear for her. When she and Liz had been talking earlier, there had been a look in her eye that Alexis had thought she'd recognized. How or when didn't matter. Liz was falling in love with Jason. It was plain to see, to anyone who knew what that look meant.

Or maybe it was just clear to someone who had fallen in love with someone that they knew that they should not have. But the heart doesn't know about should or should not. Alexis didn't know whether to bless Liz or to pray for her.

Jax looked over and caught her eye. He said something to Carly and then came over to where Alexis was standing.

"I'll bet this is a Christmas miracle you didn't expect." he said. Jax held out his arms to Molly and she eagerly climbed into them. "How's my girl?" he said to her and was answered by a toothless grin. "Pretty good, I'll bet." Molly chuckled in agreement and they both laughed.

"This was definitely something that I didn't ever think I'd see." Alexis admitted. "Carly in my house and we're not at one another's throats. Kids running around, laughing and playing. You and Sonny in the same room and surprise of all surprises, the building is still standing."

"Well, 'tis the season, after all."

"Tra-la-la ..La-la-la-la-la-la." Alexis answered dryly.

Jax laughed again and bent over to kiss her on the cheek. "Look at this way, only you could have brought all of us together. Forget me and Sonny. Did you ever think that Nikolas and I would be ale to stand in the same room without wanting to kill each other? But we love you, we do, and everybody here tonight wants to give you all the care and support you need.. So, here we are."

Alexis felt a tightness in her chest. So many people caring about her; enough to put aside all of their differences... "Thank you so much for this, Jax."

"You're very welcome, but I didn't do this. Sonny did."

"Sonny?" Alexis' voice trailed off in wonderment.

"Yes, after Michael and Morgan's Christmas pageant, he asked all of us, Carly and me, Jason, Nikolas and Emily and the boys, if we would help him turn this place into Christmas for you and Kristina and Molly."

Still caught up in her disbelief, Alexis just stared up at him for a moment. "Sonny brought Kristina to the boys' pageant? And it was Sonny that asked you all to come?"

"I'm ashamed to admit that he thought of it before I did." Jax said. "But I'm glad that he did. But we haven't got all night to get this work done. I know you need your rest, so we're going to finish this up, and then Santa's little helpers are going to get out of your way. So I'm going to give this little beauty back to you." he said, handing Molly back to her mother. "Then I want you to go over there," and he pointed to the couch. "Sit down, take it easy and let us finish up."

Jax steered Alexis back to the couch, where he made sure she was comfortable before going back to help with the decorations.

Alexis was overcome with emotions that she couldn't put a name to. All of these people had put aside their own personal feelings- for her and her girls. Alexis hugged Molly to her and laughed softly. This was all too wonderful for words.

The door opened, and all the snowman makers trooped in with a blast of cold air following them. Everyone inside laughed while they complained. Michael held the door open a little longer than necessary, watching Kristina's face crinkle up in a wide grin as the grown-ups complained and laughed even louder.

Even as Alexis was laughing, she felt a warm velvet throw get settled around her shoulders. She looked up to see Sonny as he bent over her and adjusted it over her and Molly. He smiled before moving away. Alexis stared after him, still puzzled by his behavior today, not knowing the reason for all this consideration of her well being.

"Hi, Alexis." Carly was holding Kristina by the hand. "I think this little girl was looking for her mother." She sat down "I was wondering if you had something for their dinner prepared for them for later. No," she said in answer to Alexis' suddenly stunned expression. "I'm not offering to cook or anything. I think we'd both know how that would turn out. But I can order some take out. I just wanted to know if there was anything you wanted...or needed.. You know, is there anything your doctor thinks you shouldn't have."

"I got that covered, Carly." Sonny said, suddenly appearing behind Alexis. "But thanks."

Carly shrugged and got up and moved away.

Kristina snuggled next to her mother. Alexis leaned down and brushed her lips against her forehead. "Are you having great time, Kristina? Talk about your Christmas miracles, hm?"

"We're pretty much done." Jax announced. "Gather 'round, folks, we're about to light this baby up." He waited as everyone gathered in around and behind the couch where Alexis sat. Emily took Spencer in her arms as Nikolas moved to turn off the main lights.

Alexis smiled in the dimness as she felt a hand curve over her shoulder. She knew without looking up that it was Sonny's. She decided that she wasn't going to wonder why about anything any more tonight. All that mattered was this was a Christmas present she hadn't counted on.

"Ready folks... count down...three...two..." and as everyone shouted out "One!" Jax hit the switch and a chorus of "oohs" and "ahs" filled the room.

Alexis felt tears come to her eyes. It was so beautiful. Beside her, Kristina clapped her hands together in glee and molly gave a gurgle of laughter. And then Alexis felt the tears trickle down her cheek.

It was Nikolas, sitting beside her with Spencer, who noticed first. He reached out and wiped them away. "I think this means we did a good job."

"You did a great job. Thank you all so very much." Alexis managed to get out. "I don't know what else to say."

"Merry Christmas, Aunt. That's all the thanks that are necessary."

"Merry Christmas." the words echoed on everyone's lips.